SAFE TECHNOLOGY
and DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP
In 2015, the Utah State Legislature passed H.B. 213 Safe Technology Utilization and Digital Citizenship in Public Schools. The
intent of this legislation is to involve school community councils in an on-going discussion about creating a safe technology environment for students. This report will provide some background for councils to begin a school specific discussion.
DISTRICT REPORT - 2016
☐☐ Granite School District uses iBoss Web filters under the state contract from UEN. iBoss provides categorized filtering chosen by
district administrators that filter and log all Web based traffic at all district locations.
☐☐ iBoss software allows the district to distinguish filter settings by group - student, staff and administration. Different filter settings are applied to each of the groups.
☐☐ If someone wants to know if a site is open or blocked, the Information Systems Department has the ability in the software to see
if a url/site is blocked and for what reason.
☐☐ Controls are limited to what the software can do. District administration has set the filtering policy by group. If someone wants
a blocked site opened it is reviewed by the Curriculum or Educational Technology departments, who then make a recommendation to open the site or continue to block it. Requests can be made at: wwww.graniteschools.org/edtech/suggest
☐☐ The current district practice has been in place for several years. Technological limitations are to whatever the software can do,
which is common for all software programs. The Information Systems Department has not had any requests to date that were
not accommodated.
☐☐ Information regarding digital citizenship is distributed at parent-teacher conferences by school technology specialists and library
media educational technology specialists. Parent seminars and other forums that discuss Internet safety are held periodically
during the school year at various locations. Additional resources and information on Internet safety and digital citizenship are
available through the Educational Technology Department’s website and social media feeds.
☐☐ If inappropriate content is accessed or if devices are used for prohibited acts, disciplinary action will be taken in harmony with
corrective discipline procedures for students and employees. Inadvertant access to inappropriate conent must immediately be
reported to school officials or supervisors.
SCHOOL REPORT
(The following information will be provided by the principal)
☐☐ What devices are being used and how are classes using them?
☐☐ What are the main applications, programs, and sites used in different classes, grade levels, and subject areas?
☐☐ What supervision practices are in place when students are online?
☐☐ What are the school rules when inappropriate information appears for students, staff and parents? Are there safe reporting procedures for students, staff and parents so that reporting is safe and encouraged?
☐☐ What are the policies in place for devices brought from home (tablets, cell phones, etc.)?
☐☐ Explanation of training currently provided:
• to students about digital citizenship and safe use of technology.
• to parents and guardians about how to dicuss and support digital citizenship and safe technology use with their children
and how to report inappropriate content.
DISCUSSION GUIDE FOR SCHOOL COMMUNITY COUNCILS
☐☐ Is the council comfortable with the activities being implemented at the school relating to Internet safety?
☐☐ Is the council comfortable with the filters, management tools and monitoring/supervision being provided at the school?
☐☐ If not, what recommendations does the council have for the school administration and staff?
☐☐ If the recommendations are not possible due to physical and economic constraints, is there something school administrators and
staff can do to minimize the concerns raised by the council?
☐☐ Is the council comfortable with the student education regarding Internet safety and digital citizenship being provided and the
groups providing the education?
☐☐ Is the council comfortable with the parent education being provided and the groups providing the education?
☐☐ Set goals to address the council’s questions and concerns.
LINKS - TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES & PROACTIVE OPTIONS
www.digcitutah.com is a newly released website that has been prepared specifically to assist councils. Under the Resource Library you
will find links to help address specific concerns as well as opportunites for enriching the digital experience for students. Please take
note of the entirely voluntary Positives Pilot.
Netsmartz is provided through the Office of the Utah Attorney General. They provide age appropriate trainings at schools free of
charge. You can schedule a free training via their web page. The website also provides parent resources. http://utahnetsmartz.org/
Max Rogers in the Director max@utahnetsmartz.org 801-900-3565
www.netsafeutah.org – Includes training materials in several languages for students, employees, and for parents.
Utah PTA – Provides information for parents about internet safety at home, including recommendations about free filtering and
monitoring software. It also includes videos parents could use to communicate with their children about internet safety.
http://www.utahpta.org/netsafety
White Ribbon Week provides free guides to hold White Ribbon Week at schools. White Ribbon Week is an annual program often
conducted by the PTA or a parent group that teaches children to make smart choices when using media and technology.
http://whiteribbonweek.org/
ISTE is the International Society for Technology in Education. Their website http://www.iste.org includes a standards for student
page http://www.iste.org/standards/iste-standards/standards-for-students that offers some suggested age appropriate activities.
This poster may also be useful visual in discussing digital citizenship and how it impacts many aspects of student lives.